Badminton National Champions!
Our fantastic U16 team recently competed in the Badminton England KS4 National Finals in Milton Keynes — and won! This is a historic achievement for a team filled with talented and dedicated players.
Several members of the squad are now two-time National Champions, having also won the KS3 competition two years ago — a remarkable accomplishment that reflects their hard work, resilience, and commitment to the sport.
We are immensely proud of this team and everything they have achieved. It has been a privilege to watch their development over the years, not only as talented badminton players, but also as teammates who consistently demonstrate outstanding camaraderie, determination, and fighting spirit in every competition they enter.
A huge well done goes to Kai Tian (Year 11), Vincent (Year 11), Yin Ting (Year 11), Abhay (Year 11), Jett (Year 10) and Aayush (Year 9)!
Vincent (Year 11) wrote a short piece about his experience at the National Finals:
"After narrowly missing out on the final of the Sports Magazine competition, I am proud to say that our U16 team won the Badminton England National Finals 2025/26.
It was not a perfect start. Our first match against Crossley Heath was far too close for comfort — we found ourselves trailing 1–2 before winning the final two doubles matches. Our next fixture was against Haberdashers’ Boys’, where Yin Ting made his National Finals debut and secured two impressive wins in the doubles.
Our final group-stage match was against the team we feared most: King Edward VI School. Every game was incredibly tight, with neither school willing to give an inch. In the deciding match, Aayush and Jett fought bravely and secured our place in the semi-finals.
We then breezed through our semi-final against Loughborough, losing only one match along the way. This set up a final against Thornden School. Both teams had reached the final unbeaten.
The final began with a crushing loss in the opening game, but with Abhay and Mrs Ableman supporting us from the sidelines, it was impossible to lose morale. Our team responded brilliantly, winning the next two matches to regain the lead.
What makes this final especially memorable for me, however, was the match that Kai and I played. We were trailing 13–19 and facing one of the best doubles players in England — defeat seemed almost certain. Yet Kai and I shared one thought: “Don’t give up. The match isn’t over yet.” Somehow, we won eight consecutive points and brought the trophy home.
As soon as the final point was won, the whole team ran onto the court, ecstatic after so many hard-fought battles.
So never give up hope, even when things seem impossible. No matter how difficult the situation appears, it is only over when you decide it is over.
Finally, I would like to thank Mrs Ableman, Mr Rees, and the rest of the PE department for supporting us throughout this journey. I hope this achievement inspires other pupils, and I look forward to seeing what you can accomplish in the future."
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